Good Reads of 2006

[duchess of malfi]

Here are some of my favorite reads of the year 2006. This does not mean that they are all time favorites. It does not even mean that they were published in 2006. It only means that I read these books and especially liked them in the year 2006.

Favorite Historical Mystery Novel:
Pardonable Lies by Jaquelyn Winspear
honorable mention to:
The Widow of Jeruselum by Alan Gordon
A Mist of Prophecies by Steven Saylor


Debut Novel (any genre)
Old Man's War by John Scalzi (science fiction)
honorable mention to:
Crystal Rain by Tobias Buckell (science fiction)


Historical Novel
The Winter King by Bernard Cornwell
honorable mention to:
The Boleyn Inheritence by Phillipa Gregory


Contemporary Novel
The Year of Pleasures by Elizabeth Berg

Fantasy
His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik
honorable mentions to:
House of Chains by Steven Erikson
The Sharing Knife: Beguilement by Lois McMaster Bujold
This Scepter'd Isle by Rosemary Gellis and Mercedes Lackey


Science Fiction
Old Man's War by John Scalzi
honorable mentions:
Pushing Ice by Alastair Reynolds
Crystal Rain by Tobias Buckell
The Ghost Brigades by John Scalzi
Spin by Robert Charles Wilson
Learning the World by Ken MacLeod


Adventure
The Persian Expedition by Xenophon
honorable mention to:
The Ghost Brigades by John Scalzi


Romance
The Unexpected Ajax by Georgette Heyer

Humor
The Healthy Dead by Steven Erikson


Short Story
A Lust of Cupids by Laurell K. Hamilton


Movie
The Seven Samurai


Fantasy Series
Temeraire by Naomi Novik (in progress)
honorable mention:
Malazan Book of the Fallen by Steven Erikson (in progress)


Historical Mystery Series
Maisie Dobbs by Jaquelyn Winspear
honorable mentions to:
Fool's Guild Mysteries by Alan Gordon
Roma Sub Rosa by Steven Saylor

Contemporary Mystery Series:
Candlemaking Mysteries by Tim Myers
honorable mention:
Chocoholic Mysteries by Joanne Carl

Science Fiction Series:
Hooded Swan by Brian Stableford
honorable mention:
Sector General by James White

Historical Fiction Series:
Warlord Chronicles by Bernard Cornwell

History Book:
The Trojan War: A New History by Barry Strauss
honorable mention to:
Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick

Best Biography:
Leonardo: The Artist and the Man by Serge Bramly, translated by Sian Reynolds


Best Short Story Collection:
Strange Candy by Laurell K. Hamilton
honorable mentions to:
The Ladies of Grace Adieu by Susannah Clarke
Smoke and Mirrors by Neil Gaiman

Best Graphic Novel:
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller

Horror Book:
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
honorable mention to:
Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz

Best Supernatural Romance:
Definately Dead by Charlaine Harris
honorable mention:
A Fistful of Charms by Kim Harrison

And lastly, to please Dragonlily :
Worst Sex Scene/s in any Book:
Danse Macabre by Laurell K. Hamilton

[Dragonlily]

Here's my list:

Favorite Read of 2006
Favorite Fantasy, Favorite Adventure, Favorite Debut
HIS MAJESTY’S DRAGON, Naomi Novik

Novel
Contemporary: THE MERCY OF THIN AIR, Ronlyn Domingue
Historical: THE ROAD TO CRÉCY, Daniel Hall

Mystery
Contemporary: BLACK FLY SEASON, Giles Blunt
Historical: THE WIDOW OF JERUSALEM, Alan Gordon

Science Fiction
CHILDREN OF DUNE, Frank Herbert

Romance
Reread: THE GRAND SOPHY, Georgette Heyer
New Read: HIS MAJESTY, PRINCE OF TOADS, Delle Jacobs

Inspirational
PRAYING WOMAN, Marsha Carter

Non-Fiction
GOD WILLS IT! AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF THE CRUSADES
W.B. Bartlett

Short Story
The Bull That Thought, Rudyard Kipling

Youth
HORSE PASSAGES, Jennifer Macaire

Movies
HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE
WALK THE LINE

Series
Fantasy: Temeraire Series, Naomi Novik
HIS MAJESTY’S DRAGON
Feast Or Famine
THRONE OF JADE
BLACK POWDER WAR

[duchess of malfi]

There is a record of the books we have both read, complied by Joy at her book blog.

www.reviewers-choice.com/Spinoff/book_blog.htm

I cannot remember exactly when she started it, though I believe it to be roughly a year. Therefore, depending on exact date, a few 2005 reads might have snuck in - or - a few good 2006 reads might have been left off (for some reason I am really paranoid I left out R. Scott Bakker in my "bests" list).

[Dragonlily]

I started it at the end of March, Kay. I had blogged ten books before you started, so you have more than a quarter's worth of books unnotated.

[duchess of malfi]

Yikes. In that case, I probably did leave out R. Scott Bakker as a favorite new voice and a favorite fantasy read.

And I've probably left out an Erikson book or two as well.



I will stand by my list, as I
know
that I read those books in the year 2006.

But anyone who sees this - know that Bakker probably gets honorable mention as best new voice, and that his three novels would get honorable mentions as best fantasy novels and best fantasy series.

Unfortunately, I think I read additional Erikson novels, but I am not sure which ones - though I believe them to be Deadhouse Gates and Memories of Ice. But any of them other than Gardens of the Moon (which I am pretty sure I read in 2005) would also get honorable mentions as best fantasy reads along with the listed House of Chains.

And next year, thanks to Joy, my list will be complete.

In fact, I need to go PM her with my first book read in 2007.